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E-Commerce

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what EU legislation is planned in respect of (a) distance marketing of financial services and (b) the application of VAT to electronic commerce. [157399]

Miss Melanie Johnson: A proposal from the European Commission for a directive on distance marketing of financial services is currently under discussion in the Council. A proposal from the European Commission to change the VAT rules relating to certain e-commerce supplies is also currently under discussion by member states.

Departmental Policies (Eccles)

Mr. Ian Stewart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Eccles constituency, the effects on Eccles of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [157287]

Miss Melanie Johnson: Eccles, along with the rest of the United Kingdom, is benefiting from the long-term action we have taken to build economic stability and secure and stable levels of growth and employment. Since the General Election, claimant unemployment in the constituency has fallen by 812, or 36 per cent., youth unemployment is down by 78 per cent., and long-term unemployment has fallen by 78 per cent.

Macroeconomic stability is being complemented at the microeconomic level by the Government's policies to ease the transition from welfare to work and to make work pay. To the end of January 2001, the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds had helped 843 young people in Eccles constituency gain valuable skills and experience--419 (50 per cent.) of whom had moved into employment. The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), introduced in

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October 1999, is helping to make work pay for low and middle income families. In August 2000, 2,800 families in the constituency were benefiting from WFTC.

The Government are also committed to policies that enable pensioners to share in the country's rising prosperity. All pensioners, including 17,500 in Eccles, are receiving an above-inflation increase in the basic state pension from April 2001. Single pensioners receive an extra £5 a week, and couples receive an extra £8 a week. All pensioners aged 75 or over have also been entitled to a free TV licence since November 2000--including around 7,500 in Eccles.

Departmental Policies (Amber Valley)

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Amber Valley constituency, the effects on Amber Valley of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [157130]

Miss Melanie Johnson: Amber Valley, along with the rest of the United Kingdom, is benefiting from the long- term action we have taken to build economic stability and secure high and stable levels of growth and employment. Since the general election, claimant unemployment in the constituency has fallen by 516, or 25 per cent., youth unemployment is down by 87 per cent., and long-term unemployment has fallen by 60 per cent.

Macroeconomic stability is being complemented at the microeconomic level by the Government's policies to ease the transition from welfare into work and to make work pay. To the end of January 2001, the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds had helped 789 young people in Amber Valley constituency gain valuable skills and experience--406 (51 per cent.) of whom had moved into employment. The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), introduced in October 1999, is helping to make work pay for low and middle income families. In August 2000, 2,200 families in the constituency were benefiting from WFTC.

The Government are also committed to policies that enable pensioners to share in the country's rising prosperity. All pensioners, including 17,100 in Amber Valley, are receiving an above-inflation increase in the basic State Pension from April 2001. Single pensioners receive an extra £5 a week, and couples receive an extra £8 a week. All pensioners aged 75 or over have also been entitled to a free TV licence since November 2000--including around 7,500 in Amber Valley.

VAT Fraud

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department in each year since 1997 of complex VAT fraud; and if he will make a statement. [156899]

Dawn Primarolo: No such estimate is available, relating specifically to the costs to Customs and Excise of complex VAT fraud in each year since 1997.

Financial Services Act

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many contraventions of (a) section 3 and (b) section 47 of the Financial Services Act 1986 have been referred to the (i) police and (ii) High Court since April 1998. [154997]

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Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 22 March 2001]: The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Asbestos-related Diseases

Mr. Worthington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what decisions were made at the meeting of the Policyholders Protection Board on 21 March which will have implications for sufferers of asbestos-related diseases. [156478]

Miss Melanie Johnson: [holding answer 3 April 2001]: I understand that the board has been working very closely with the run-off management of Chester Street Insurance Holdings Limited, and subsequently with the scheme administrators. I am informed that, at its meeting on 21 March, the board decided that payments should be made as soon as possible to Chester Street policyholders whose eligibility for protection under the Policyholders Protection Act 1975 is established.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Digital Television

Mr. Ian Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the Office of Fair Trading's report into BSkyB; and what his Department's policy is on promoting choice and competition within the digital television market. [R] [157041]

Dr. Howells: The Office of Fair Trading inquiry into the activities of BSkyB was made under the Competition Act 1998. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry will not therefore receive a formal report at the end of the process. The Director-General of Fair Trading will, however, keep my right hon. Friend informed of key developments. The Director-General expects to reach a view on whether or not an infringement decision should be issued against BSkyB by this summer.

The Department of Trade and Industry supports choice and competition within the digital television market by supporting the development of all three digital platforms; cable, satellite and terrestrial.

Aiwa Factory, Newbridge

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations he has received on the prospect of job losses at the Aiwa factory in Newbridge in Wales; [156576]

(2) what representations he has received from the owners of Aiwa on the prospect of job losses at the Aiwa factory in Newbridge in Wales. [156578]

Ms Hewitt [holding answer 2 April 2001]: I have not received any representations in respect of the prospect of job losses at the Aiwa factory in Newbridge in Wales.

With the transfer of devolved powers to the National Assembly for Wales, such representations would be referred to it.

I understand that the company has issued a press statement rebutting the press reports of possible job losses at Newbridge.

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Officials at the WDA, DTI and our embassy in Tokyo are in close contact with the company and are monitoring the situation closely.

Partnerships

Mr. Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he plans to consult on the removal of the 20 partner limit on partnerships. [157149]

Mr. Byers: I am pleased to announce to the House that I have today published a consultation document proposing the removal of the 20 partner limit on partnerships.

Consultation on the abolition of the limit on the number of partners allowed in a partnership was announced as one of the Government's measures to reduce the red-tape on business by means of a Regulatory Reform Order. The removal of the 20 partner limit is a deregulatory measure that will ease the administrative burdens on larger partnerships that wish to expand.

Copies of the consultation document have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Marks and Spencer Call Centre (Warrington)

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to assist staff affected by the proposed closure of the Marks and Spence Call Centre and Fulfilment operations in Warrington; and if he will make a statement. [156983]

Ms Hewitt: The Northwest Development Agency has met the local management team at Marks and Spencers in Warrington and discussed possible assistance, including access to the Rapid Response Fund. Other partners, including the Employment Service, Cheshire and Warrington Local Learning and Skills Council and Warrington Borough Council are also ready to provide support and guidance to staff affected.

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